Time to Pray!!!

 Time to Pray!!! - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com “This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the powerthereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Paul wrote those words to a young man who was one of the first pastors. He needed guidance and needed to be aware of the troubles that he faced. The same problems plague pastorstoday, but many pastors seem to ignore Paul’s words. They forget that all Scripture is directly from the Holy Spirit. As we read these verses, it’s easy to think that they describe people who aren’t a part of Christ’s church. but Paul was writing to a Christianpastor and the concerns were about happenings within the congregation. You don’t have to look hard to see that we are living in the perilous time that Paul warned Timothy about. The English word “perilous” doesn’t sound too bad, but in truth, the Greek wordchalepos is bad. It means hard to bear and painful. The only other place chalepos is used is to describe the demoniac in Gadara. What’s happening in the world today is very demonic, but sadly the evil is spilling into our congregations. In order to keep the collection plates full, many pastors compromise God’s truth. Most pastors like to preach about the joy of the Lord, rather than repentance. God and sinare opposites, so you cannot turn to God unless you turn away from sin. There is no joy in sin, but many pastors are willing to compromise Biblical truth in order to keep collections up and pews filled. The last church I attended was very non-Scriptural. Thepastor spent more time quoting from his “favorite atheist” and rock and roll groups than teaching from Scripture. When he did try to teach Scripture, he was so far off base that it was pitiful. The Sunday school material was very “fluffy”. One lesson was aboutdemons, and I hoped it would give good information. Sadly, the lesson likened demons to termites. I don’t know how many of you reading this have faced spiritual warfare, but believe me, it’s nothing like termites. Paul was serious with Timothy not compromisingGod’s truth. “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2. If you are preaching a watered-down Gospel, or another Gospel not found in Scripture, or tickling ears, God will ultimately judge you. How many people have you led down thewrong path? How many will end up in Hell because you haven’t taught repentance? Think about it. Jesus Christ gave His life so that we can be forgiven from our sin. Since He knew just how bad sin is, any pastor who doesn’t preach about turning from sin needsto study Scripture. It’s easy to blame the pastors, but every Christian has a responsibility to know Scripture. If you happen to be clinging to a denomination or listening to a pastor who isn’tBiblical, then you are part of the problem. Paul knew that a time would come when Scripture wouldn’t be honored, and preaching wishy-washy sermons would be the only way to fill pews. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but aftertheir own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Are you a “Christian” who believes the fable of evolution? Do you believe the fable that God approves of two men or two women marrying? You need to study Scripture. What’s wrong with this world? Why is it that abortion is a protected right, but it’s considered hate to stand up for the child that is being murdered? Why is it considered “hate speech” to speak against things that Scripture says is sin? Social media will block ministries that speak God’s truth, while there are numerous sites that glorify Satan. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light,and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.” Isaiah 5:20-21. What is the driving force behind all of this upside-down, craziness? Plain and simple, it’s Satan. Christians have been willingly silenced, so Satan is getting louder. AsPaul wrote to Timothy “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5. There are some very outspoken pastors who stand firm upon the truth of Scripture. May God protect these men who honor God. If you attend a church where the pastor is Biblicallysound, you are blessed. God is real and is in the supernatural realm. Satan is also real, and also supernatural. Most denominations deny the supernatural. They are so afraid of giving Satan any glory,that they deny supernatural power, including the power of God. The Gospels give many accounts of demon possession, and Jesus told His disciples how to deal with them. Once a man brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus to be freed. Jesus had gone up a mountainwith some of the disciples, so the remaining disciples tried to cast the demon from the young man. They failed. When Jesus saw that there was a problem, He took authority over the demon and cast it away. The disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t cast thedemon out. “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:29. This tells us that there are various “kinds” of demons. It’s time to heed Jesus’ words. There are demonic spirits within our congregations, in our governments, in our schools,and in our neighborhoods. It’s time to stop denying the supernatural and turn to our all-powerful God of all creation. We need to fast and pray. It is a spiritual battle, and we are giving the victory to the enemy when we don’t trust God. Stand and fight withthe supernatural power of God. The spiritual battle is attacking our families. Men have given their God-ordained position away. They cannot love their wives as Christ loves His church, because either theydon’t bother to take a wife and just rely on fornication, or they’ve divorced and don’t live in the household. Women have taken the position of leadership in the home because being a wife and mother has become a job that isn’t respected, and many want to bethe “man of the house”. Children are affected by this break in the family order. Instead of being raised by their parents, daycare, babysitters, step-parents, and schools are the authority in their lives. Satan is behind it all. If we recognize that it’s aspiritual battle, we can then see the way to fight. We need spiritual weapons. “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11. A soldier never enters battle without knowing how to use each piece of his battle gear. Christians need to know how to use God’s armor. “For we wrestle not against flesh andblood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. Paul understood how important it is to be clad in God’s armor. He was attacked for his faith on many occasions and the armor was important. “Wherefore take unto you the wholearmor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel ofpeace; above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet o salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication inthe Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassadorin bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:13-20. Put on God’s armor and don’t take it off. It’s time to pray for all the saints. We all must be bold in our witness for Christ and have our spiritual armor securely in place. God bless you all, Nathele Graham twotug@embarqmail.com Recommended prophecy sites: www.raptureready.com www.prophecyupdate.com www.raptureforums.com All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed. If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6.